Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide (How to Select, Buy, Care for Diamonds With Confidence and Knowledge) (Paperback)

by Antoinette L. Matlins (Author) "The diamond has been one of the most coveted gems in history..." (more)
Key Phrases: diamond grading report, gemologist consultant, grading trough, United States, American Gem Society, Gemological Institute of America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
A leading authority in gems and gem care, Matlins has issued two additional titles in her "buying guide" series. Colored Gemstones covers traditional background information and the allure of precious and semiprecious stones, including emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and others. The text and appendixes include charts, graphs, and a guide for purchasing and valuing stones, as well as advice on gem care and how to avoid scams. Color inserts highlight stones by color and showcase special jewelry design and styles. Diamonds focuses on the unique quality of this special gem. The text offers advice on appreciating diamonds, their qualities and characteristics, and setting and purchasing details. Color inserts highlight shapes and settings that accent the beauty of this gem of all gems. While these are formula books in the mold of Matlins's previous titles (Jewelry and Gems, The Pearl Book), they include extensive appendixes that cover the information needed for investing and purchasing gems of all types. Highly recommended for public libraries. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
All the Information You Need to Buy, Collect, Sell--or Simply Enjoy--Diamonds with Confidence and Knowledge

Whether you are buying a diamond for an engagement ring, anniversary, to commemorate a special moment, or for personal pleasure, today it is more important than ever to understand what you are buying. There are new shapes and cuts, fancy colors, high-tech treatments, and sophisticated frauds. There are new ways to buy--such as internet auctions and TV shopping. Buyers need a source of expert guidance. Practical, comprehensive, and easy to understand, this book offers in depth all the information you need to buy sparkling diamonds with confidence, including:
* What is a diamond?
* The factors affecting quality differences in diamonds.
* Diamond grading reports and how to interpret them.
* How to compare prices.
* How to spot differences in stones that may appear to be the same quality.
* How to protect yourself from misrepresentation.
* Questions to ask when buying any diamond.
* What to get in writing.
* How to get what you want within your budget.
And much, much more!

Written by an "insider," this easy-to-read guide is the "unofficial diamond bible" for anyone who wants to get the most for their money and enjoy what they have purchased.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Gemstone Press (August 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943763320
• ISBN-13: 978-0943763323
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #305,329 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A SPARKLING BUY", December 7, 2001

By A Customer

I have most of Antoinette Matlins books and I give them all five stars. If you are interested in learning about or are planning to buy a diamond for any reason, I would read this book first!!
I recently purchased the book "Diamond Buying Guide" and had not realized how involved and complicated it is to understand the differences in the evaluation of diamonds. A particular diamond I thought was a great deal before reading this book, however, I learned was not a good deal at all. The purchase would have been a poor investment. Thanks to this book I gained enough confidence and knowledge to explore the diamond market and I purchased a beautiful diamond ring for my wife. I had the diamond ring appraised by a reputable appraiser and I felt even better when she informed me that my purchase was as represented and the purchase was at a very good price. The appraiser was impressed with how much I new about diamonds. I was proud to inform her it was because of this book. The book is easy reading, informative, and was helpful to me. Thanks!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling gem of a book, November 24, 2006

By	Sparkle Designer "Sparkle Designer" (Mancherster, UK) - See all my reviews

A detailed book that gives you a great understanding of diamonds and what affects their value, covers the important facts on diamonds, how they can be enhanced and their simulants. What to avoid, how and where or where not to buy. The scams and how to get professional appraisals. Will give you more knowlage than most high street chain jewelers have. Buy this before buying any diamond jewellery.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excels in Discussion of Cuts, Fancy Colors, Enhancements. , July 5, 2007

By	mirasreviews (McLean, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Antoinette Matlins' buying guides for jewelry and gemstones are excellent, and "Diamonds" is no exception. Perhaps because she is a gemologist consultant, Ms. Matlins excels in anticipating what consumers want to know and makes sure her guides answer those questions. The paucity of color photographs, which are limited to a 12-page insert, may be "Diamonds" weakness. People like to look at pictures of sparkling gems, but the abundant information in the guide is easy to understand without photographs. And photos are probably less essential in a diamond guide than in a guide of colored gemstones, since there are fewer varieties. Many of the most interesting and popular cuts are pictured, so the essential photos are included.

After explaining how to examine a stone through a loupe, Matlins moves on to the meat of the guide in Part 2: There is a chapter for each of the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, carat weight. Illustrations of ideal cut, different cuts, faulty cuts, and how they affect price are especially interesting. The chapter on color includes discussion of color grading systems and the HPHT process to improve color. These are followed by chapters on diamond grading reports and how that information affects price, and common types of misrepresentation and what you can do to avoid being misled, including discussion of fake diamonds and how to detect them. One chapter is dedicated to comparing prices for round, brilliant-cut diamonds, so that we can see the relative effects of the 4Cs on price. Another chapter addresses color and color enhancement in fancy diamonds, with a retail price guide and sample gem grading reports.

The last 2 parts of "Diamonds" include descriptions of common diamond settings, advice on what to ask when shopping for a diamond, what to consider, and what to get in writing on your bill of sale, as well as advice on finding a good jeweler, gemologist, appraiser, or insurer, caring for diamonds, and a little about the Gemprint diamond identification system. This book provides more detail about diamond cuts, enhancements, and how to detect a fake than Fred Cuellar's "How to Buy a Diamond" guide. Antoinette Matlins' approach is more hands-on, emphasizing the consumer looking at diamonds through a loupe, whereas Cuellar expects that you will rely on machines to analyze the diamonds but offers more guidance on the shopping experience itself -guidance that is inextricably entwined with promotion for his own business, however.